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(No' Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. I. HENDERSON.

FREIGHT HANDLING MACHINE.

' No. 431,262. Patented July I 1890.

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I. HENDERSON. FREIGHT HANDLING MACHINE.

No. 431,262. Patented July 1, 1890..

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I. HENDERSON.

FREIGHT HANDLING MACHINE. No. 431,262. Patented July 1,1890.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I. HENDERSON.

FREIGHT HANDLING MACHINE.

No. 431,262. Patented July 1, 1890.

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NiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC HENDERSON, OF VANCOUVER, CANADA.

FREIGHT-HANDLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,262, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed August 1, 1889. Serial No. 319,871. (No model.)

T (0Z4 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac HENDFRSON, of Vancouver, in the Province of British 00- lumbia and Dominion of Canada, have in vented a new and Improved Freight Handling Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to hoisting and transporting machines; and its object is to provide anew and improved portable machine which is simple and durable in construction, very effective and automatic in operation, and specially designed for elevating, lowering, and transporting freight or other articles from, to, or into cars, ships, docks, &c.

Theinvention consists of an endless double track arranged vertically, or nearly so, cages adaptedto travel on the said track, and convcyers connected withthe ends of the said endless double track to move the articles to and from the said cages.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as Will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement as applied to a vessel. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the vessel being in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of part of a sectional conveyor. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of part of the improvement on the line 0c of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 1 3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the conveyer-chains on the line 2 z of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an enlarged face View of part of the endless double track and carrierchains; and Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of one of the tracks and chains.

The improved freight-handling machine is provided with two endless tracks A A, running nearly parallel with each other, and on which are held to travel the endless carrierchains B B, respectively, supporting the cages C, placed suitable distances apart on the said chains. The upper and lower ends of the tracks A A are connected with conveyers D and E, alike in construction and serving to carry the articles to be loaded on or unloaded from the said cages C. The endless chains B B in the tracks A A are set in motion by endless chains F, or other mechanism driven by suitable machinery located on the dock or vessel.

The endless tracks A A are secured on two upright beams A connected with each other at the top and bottom by cross-pieces A and A, and also connected at intermediate points, according to the height of the beams. The tracks A A are twisted and curved to face the beams A at one end and the back at the other end, forming an endless double track, the upright portions of which join each other, twin fashion, (see Fig. 8,) while the horizontally-curved portions lie equal distances apart in a vertical or approximately vertical line equal in length to the distance between the centers of the pivots of each cage 0.

The tracks A A form equal channels for the chains B B, and each channel is provided with. a back or bottom piece A, which is U-shaped 'in crosssection, as is plainly shown in Fig. 9. From the back A extend the sides A, supporting the two face-pieces A forming a slot A The endless track or carrier-chains B B are more fully illustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 6,8, and 9, and each consists of a series of forked links B and B pivotally connected at their open ends by pins B,extending parallel to the sides A of the track and pass ing through both ends of the forks,which are hubbed and eyed for this purpose. A wheel B is journaled on the said pin B between the prongs of the forks and is adapted to run on the projection A formed on the back A of each track, when the track and chain run horizontally,or nearly so, and the back of track is in a vertical position. One of the prongs of each link is formedand connected with the other in a straight line, and is pro vided at its inner edge with one or more notches B placed at regular intervals and adapted to be engaged by the cross-pins of the endless chains F, which impart motion to the chains B and B. Theother end of each link is journaled upon an axle B placed at right angles to the pin B" and carrying a wheel B, journaled at each end thereof.

Each wheel B (see Fig. 9) travels between the inner surface of the back A and the face pieces A of the tracks A and A. Each axle B is thus held by two link ends, one of which is sheared out to receive the other and form a joint, of which the axle forms the pin or pivot. Each chain B and B is also provided at suitable intervals with a stud B extending outward from the center of one axle end of link. On each stud B is mounted to turn a wheel 13*, traveling in the slot A with its periphery on the edges of the face-pieces A of the tracks A A, as is plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The outer end of each stud B also forms one of the pivots for a cage C. Each chain B or B is capable of bending to adapt itself to compound curves, or curves at right angles to each other, and the axle-joints are made to allow chain to twist sayone-quarter turn in about six feet. The diameter of the wheels B and the length of the axles B are proportioned to the cross-sections of the tracks A and A.

The endless chains F, forimpartinga traveling motion to the endless chains B and B, pass over suitably-shaped sprocket-wheels F and F, fastened on the shafts F and F, respectively, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the beams A supporting the tracks A and A. The front parts of the chains F extend onto the back A of the tracks, said back being cut away a suitable distance to admit the chains and the wheels F and F as is plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Each cage C is provided with a number of bars 0, diverging from the center of the top and secured to a cross-bar C below, from which they are bent to project at right angles to the plane to form a bracket with a grated floor consisting of a series of arms C adapted to pass freely through a correspondinglygrated end of the conveyers D and E. In the middle of the cross-bar C and extending rearward is formed a hub O fitting onto the studs B carrying the friction-wheel B previously mentioned, and projecting from one of the links of the endless chains B B. On the upper ends of the diverging bars 0 is formed a second hub C fitting loosely onto the corresponding studs B of the other endless chain B or B. As is plainly shown in Fig. 3, the upper hub C of each cage 0 is thus journaled in the upper or outer chain B, while the lower hub G is journaled on the inner or lower chain B. The cages are secured in place by passing a pin through each stud B just in front of the hub 0 as shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the conveyers D or E is provided with a series of parallel tracks G, connected with each other at suitable intervals on the bottom of the cross-piece G. In the top of each track is formed a groove G in which is mounted to travel a chain H, the top edge of which extends a suitable distance beyond the outer edge of the respective track, as is plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 7. From the bottom of the groove G extend upward and sidewise openings G to permit the grit and other impurities collecting in the groove G to pass to the outside, so as not to obstruct and clog the chains H. The said chains H pass over pulleys H at each end of the tracks G, said pulleys being secured on separate and independent shafts H mounted to turn in suitable bearings at the extreme ends of said tracks G. These pulleys H at the inner ends of the tracks form the inner extremity of the conveyer, and as the pulley-shafts are separate and independent the inner ends of the tracks are disconnected, which permits the grated cages to pass therethrough with their Vertical rear walls close to said pulleys. The chains H of each conveyer are driven by sprocketwheels I, secured on a shaft J, mounted to turn in suitable hearings in the tracks G. On the shaft J of the conveyer E is secured a sprocket-wheel J, over which passes a sprocket-chain K, extending to the dock or along' the vessel and driven by suitable machinery, so as to rotate said shaft J. The latter also carries a second sprocket-wheel J over which passes a sprocket-chain L, also passing over a sprocket-wheel F secured on the shaft F previously mentioned, and carrying the wheel F over which pass the endless chains F, imparting a traveling motion to the chains B and B. On the shaft F is also secured a bevel gear wheel N, meshing into a bevel gear-wheel N, secured on a shaft N mounted to turn in suitable bearings on the beams A and carrying a sprocket-wheel N over which passes a sprocket-chain N, extending downward between the said two beams A and also passing over a sprocket-wheel N secured on a shaft N, mounted to turn in suitable bearings on the cross;beam A connecting the beams A with each other at their lower end. On the shaft N is secured a second sprocketwheel N over which passes a sprocket-chain N also passing over a sprocket-wl1eelN ,secured on the shaft J of the conveyer D. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Thus when the shaft J of the conveyer D is turned the machine is set in motion.

Each conveyer may be made in short sections, as shown in Fig. 4, in which the pulleys of the adjoining ends of each section are mounted on a common shaft H and on these shafts are mounted sprocket-wheels O, over which pass sprocket-chains P, so that when one set of chains II is caused to travel their motion is transmitted to the other set by the wheels 0 and chains P. (See Fig. 4.)

The operation is as follows: When the machine is used for unloading a vessel, for instance, the beams A supporting the tracks A and A, are set in the hold of the vessel in a vertical or approximately vertical line, the upper cross-beam A resting on abeam Q, held across the hold of the vessel, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the said beams with the tracks are suspended on the vessel. The conveyer D is placed in the hold of the vessel, one end extending to within a short ICC IIO

cages can pass between the chains H and the tracks G. In a similar manner the conveyer E is connected with the upper ends of the tracks A and A, as is plainly shown in Fig. 3. The cages in this case pass with their arms 0 down through the end of the conveyer E and pass upward through the end of the conveyer D. \Vhen the'machine is set in motion, as previously described, by imparting a travelin motion to the chain K, then the endless chains B and B are caused to travel on the tracks A A in such a manner that the cages 0 pass down on one side of the double track and come up on the other. Merchandise or other articles to be unloaded from the hold of the vessel are placed on the chains ll of the convcycr D, so that the said chains carry the merchandise forward to the tracks A and A, and when the next cage 0 passes upward. from below its arms 0 take hold of the merchandise and carry it upward and over the upper ends of the tracks, then downward to deposit iton the chains II of the conveyer E. The arms of the respective cages pass between the ends of the conveyer E and leave the merchandise on the chains H, and the latter carry the same to the dock or wharf or other desired place. lVhen it is desired to load the vessel, the driving machinery is 'reversed, so that articles placed on the chains II of the conveyer E at the outer end of the lattcr are moved to the tracks A and A, and then carried downward by the cages O to the conveyer I), which latter moves them along the hold of the vessel to any desired place in the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a freight-handling machine, a grated conveyer consisting in parallel tracks having pulleys journaled separately on their ends, and endless conveyer-s passing around the tracks and pulleys, substantially as set forth.

2. In a freight-handling machine, a grated conveyer consisting in the parallel tracks G, disconnected at their delivery ends and grooved longitudinally on their upper faces, as at G and having the pulleys II on separate shafts ll at the ends of said tracks, and the endless chains passing through said grooves and around the pulleys, substantially as set forth.

3. In a freight-haildling machine, the conveyer having longitudinally-grooved tracks G, provided with lateral apertures G intersecting said grooves, the separate and independent pulleys, and the endless conveyers extending through said grooves around the pulleys, substantially as set forth.

4. In a freight-handling machine, the combination, with the parallel tracks havingpulleys on their extremities and the endless conveyers passing around the same and forming a grated conveyer, of the endless elevatorchains, the grated cages, the outwarc'lly-projecting fingers or arms of which are adapted to pass between the grated conveyer, the pul-' leys on the several tracks extending close to the inner ends of the said arms or lingers, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the endless carriers or elevator-chains, of cages secured at their upper ends to one elevator-chain and at their lower ends to the oth er, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the endless carriers or elevat0r-chains having their upper and lower end portions extending parallel with each other and facing in horizontal planes approximately atright angles to their intermediate portions, of a cage or carricrsecured at-its upper end to one carrier or elevator-chain and at its lowerend to the other, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the character set forth, an endless double track twisted between its ends and having the upper and lower ends of its two parts facing horizontally and spaced apart as shown, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with an endless double track twisted between its 'ends and having its upper and lower ends facing horizontally and spaced apart, of the separate and independent endless carrier chains traveling along said tracks, and a cage or receptacle sccured at its upper end to one carrier-chain and at its lower end to the other carrier-chain, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the endless tracks AA,havingtheir upper and lower ends facing horizontally in opposite directions and spaced apart, of the endless chains, independent one of the other and traveling along said tracks, and the cage or receptacle secured at points one above the other to said chains, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the parallel connected uprights A and the endless tracks A A, twisted and curved to face the beams at one end and the back at the other end and forming an endless track, the upright portions of which join each other, while the horizontally-curved end portions are spaced vertically apart. of the endless carrier-chains traveling. around said tracks and provided with studs or pivots spaced apart the same distance as the horizontally-curved end portions of the tracks, and the cages or receptacles secured to said pivots or studs, substantially as set forth.

11. In afreight-handling machine, thecombination, with a track forming a channel, substantially as described, of a chain adapted to travel in the said channel and comprising a series of links each made in two parts and provided with notches for engagement with the driving mechanism, a pin connecting the two parts with each other, axles standing at right angles to the said pins and connecting successive links with each other, and frictionwheels carried on the said axles and adapted to travel on the inner surfaces of the front and back of the said channel, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a freight-handling machine, the combination, with a track forming a channel, substantially as described, of a chain adapted to travel in the said channel and comprising a series of links each made in two parts and provided with notches for engagement with the driving mechanism, a pin connecting-the two parts with each other, axles standing at right angles to the said pins and connecting successive links with each other, frictionwhcels carried on the said axles and adapted to travel on the innersurfaces of the front and back of the said channel, and a friction-wheel held on the said pin and adapted to travel on an oifset in the said channel when the track and chain run horizontally, or nearly so, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a freight-handling machine,a conveyer comprising a series of parallel tracks provided with grooves in the top, endless chains held to travel in the said grooves, and means for imparting motion to the said endless chains, in combination with cages mounted to travel and provided with a grated bottom formed by arms adapted to pass between the said chains and tracks at their ends, substantially as shown and described.

14. The combination, with the upper and lower endless conveyers at right angles to each other, of the uprights A and the endless tracks A A, twisted and curved between their ends along the beams, their ends being horizontal and spaced vertically to bring the tracks in proper relation to said conveyers,

and the separate and independent endless chains in said tracks, and the cages secured at their upper ends to one chain and at their lower ends to the other to pass the said conveyers vertically without overturning, substantially as set forth.

15; In an apparatus of the character described, an endless carrier-chain comprising a series of links, each madeintwo parts and provided on their inner edges with notches for engagement with a driving mechanism, a pin connecting the two parts with each other, and other pins or axles at right angles to the first-named pins and connecting the successive links together, substantially as set forth.

16. In an apparatus of the. character described, a carrier-chain comprising a series of links made in two parts notched on their inner edges, a pin connecting said parts of each link with each other, axles at right angles to said pins and connecting the said two-part links together, and friction-wheels on said axles and pins, substantially as set forth.

17. In an apparatus of the character de- ,scribed,the carrier-chain comprising a series of links made in two parts notched on their rear edges and one of said parts on certain of the links having studs 3 projecting from their front edges, pins connecting the two parts of said links, friction-wheels on the inner portions of said pins, and axles connecting the successive links at right angles to said pins and provided with friction-wheels, substantially as set forth.

1 8. The combination, with an upright frame, of double endless track curved and twisted to pass from front to back of the frame and I through vertical andhorizontal positions, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

ISAAO HENDERSON. Witnesses:

HENRY A. MELLoN, WILL FEnRIs. 

